Real-time monitoring of port dynamics for safety of navigation and mooring manoeuvres within the European Interreg Maritime Project SINAPSI

The present PhD thesis developed within the Project “SINAPSI - Navigation assistance for safe access to ports”, which was part of the Interreg Italy-France Maritime 2014-2020 Programme. The Project involved Italian and French Partners, for the creation and development of instrumentation networks suitable for monitoring marine conditions in the Project ports, aiming to improve the safety of navigation. The Port of Genoa was one of the entities involved, and this thesis dealed specifically with the implementation of a network of Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) for monitoring port water dynamics. Initially, a characterization of the Port of Genoa area was conducted, both in terms of management and logistics, and of the most frequently occurring weather and sea conditions, to identify the areas that may be most problematic for navigational safety and most interesting for the study of dynamics. In addition, a research regarding the issues and conditions most frequently encountered in maritime accidents was conducted , including the role of weather and sea conditions. Furthermore, part of the PhD Project was the involvement of international port realities to obtain useful information with respect to the characteristics that a monitoring network must have in order to be as efficient as possible. Before the set up of the network of current meters, monitoring campaigns has been carried out, with the aim to collect data on the dynamics of the Port of Genoa under different weather conditions, providing preliminary information to create a solid base on which to develop the Project, and to be compared with the data obtained from the monitoring network. The implementation of the monitoring network consisted of several steps, as the acquisition of the instruments and the facilities for their installation and for data transmission, the identification of suitable sites for the placement of the current meters, and finally the installation of the instruments in the Port of Genoa. Once the monitoring network was installed, the data obtained has been analysed for the study of water dynamics in the Port of Genoa. Therefore, this PhD Project therefore aimed to realise a fundamental tool for ensuring safety to navigation in port waters, also deepening scientific knowledge regarding the water dynamics of the area Port of Genoa

Big Data Analytics for Smart Cities: The H2020 CLASS Project

Applying big-data technologies to field applications has resulted in several new needs. First, processing data across a compute continuum spanning from cloud to edge to devices, with varying capacity, architecture etc. Second, some computations need to be made predictable (real-time response), thus supporting both data-in-motion processing and larger-scale data-at-rest processing. Last, employing an event-driven programming model that supports mixing different APIs and models, such as Map/Reduce, CEP, sequential code, etc.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme under the CLASS Project (www.class-project.eu), grant agreement No. 780622.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Bayesian clinical trial designs : Another option for trauma trials?

The UK-REBOA Trial is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme (project number 14/199/09). PP was supported by the MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MR/L004933/1-R/N/P/B1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

impact of consumption profile discontinuities on the feasibility of a pv plant

Abstract The revenues of a grid-connected photovoltaic plant are strongly related to the local climatic conditions. In addition, since self-consumed electricity is much more valuable than that traded with the main power grid, also consumption profile plays a key role in the profitability of a PV system. Self-consumption to total PV production ratio depends on the temporal mismatch between energy generation and demand. The amount of energy that is not self-consumed may be very high in the case of a consumption profile with several discontinuities. This study is focused on the analysis of a grid-connected PV system serving a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. These facilities are energy-intensive users, characterized by high variability of electricity demand due to intermittent operation of gas compressors: in a few seconds the total load may change from 100% to 5% and vice versa very frequently during the day. The analysis was based on data acquired on the field for the compression station and those already present in the literature for solar irradiation. The influence on plant design of the time step used for the analysis was studied in detail. The outcomes showed that the typical and well-assessed design approaches of a PV pant may lead to errors when used for the design of systems with several consumption profile discontinuities

Bayesian clinical trial designs:another option for trauma trials?

Conducting clinical trials in trauma care is challenging. As new treatments become available, we are faced with the dilemma of how to confirm their effectiveness, and strengthen the evidence base. Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard, but target groups in trauma care are often small and specialized, making the classical approach to trial design difficult. Bayesian designs represent an innovative means of increasing trial efficiency, and conducting trials with more realistic sample sizes. This article examines the design of such trials, using the UK-REBOA Trial as an example

High-Volume Transanal Surgery with CPH34 HV for the Treatment of III-IV Degree Haemorrhoids: Final Short-Term Results of an Italian Multicenter Clinical Study

The clinical chart of 621 patients with III-IV haemorrhoids undergoing Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy (SH) with CPH34 HV in 2012-2014 was consecutively reviewed to assess its safety and efficacy after at least 12 months of follow-up. Mean volume of prolapsectomy was significantly higher (13.0 mL; SD, 1.4) in larger prolapse (9.3 mL; SD, 1.2) (p < 0.001). Residual or recurrent haemorrhoids occurred in 11 of 621 patients (1.8%) and in 12 of 581 patients (1.9%), respectively. Relapse was correlated with higher preoperative Constipation Scoring System (CSS) (p = 0.000), Pescatori's degree (p = 0.000), Goligher's grade (p = 0.003), prolapse exceeding half of the length of the Circular Anal Dilator (CAD) (p = 0.000), and higher volume of prolapsectomy (p = 0.000). At regression analysis, only the preoperative CSS, Pescatori's degree, Goligher's grade, and volume of resection were significantly predictive of relapse. A high level of satisfaction (VAS = 8.6; SD, 1.0) coupled with a reduction of 12-month CSS (Δ preoperative CSS/12 mo CSS = 3.4, SD, 2.0; p < 0.001) was observed. The wider prolapsectomy achievable with CPH34 HV determined an overall 3.7% relapse rate in patients with high prevalence of large internal rectal prolapse, coupled with high satisfaction index, significant reduction of CSS, and very low complication rates

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for trauma patients with uncontrolled torso haemorrhage : study protocol for a randomised clinical trial (the UK-REBOA trial)

Acknowledgements The UK-REBOA trial grantholders include Jan O. Jansen, University of Aberdeen, UK, and University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA; Marion K. Campbell, University of Aberdeen, UK; Chris Moran, Nottingham University Hospital Trust, UK; Karim Brohi, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Fiona Lecky, University of Sheffield, UK; Robbie Lendrum, Bart’s Health NHS Trust, UK; Graeme MacLennan, University of Aberdeen, UK; Jonathan J. Morrison, University of Maryland, USA; Nigel Tai, Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, UK; Tim Harris, Bart’s Health NHS Trust, UK; John Norrie, University of Edinburgh, UK; Dwayne Boyers, University of Aberdeen, UK; Alan Paterson, University of Strathclyde, UK; and Nick Welch. Funding {4} This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) HTA Programme (reference 14/199/09). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. The funder has/had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; or writing the manuscript. The Health Services Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences (University of Aberdeen), is core-funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

POLARIX: a pathfinder mission of X-ray polarimetry

Since the birth of X-ray astronomy, spectral, spatial and timing observation improved dramatically, procuring a wealth of information on the majority of the classes of the celestial sources. Polarimetry, instead, remained basically unprobed. X-ray polarimetry promises to provide additional information procuring two new observable quantities, the degree and the angle of polarization. POLARIX is a mission dedicated to X-ray polarimetry. It exploits the polarimetric response of a Gas Pixel Detector, combined with position sensitivity, that, at the focus of a telescope, results in a huge increase of sensitivity. Three Gas Pixel Detectors are coupled with three X-ray optics which are the heritage of JET-X mission. POLARIX will measure time resolved X-ray polarization with an angular resolution of about 20 arcsec in a field of view of 15 arcmin $\times$ 15 arcmin and with an energy resolution of 20 % at 6 keV. The Minimum Detectable Polarization is 12 % for a source having a flux of 1 mCrab and 10^5 s of observing time. The satellite will be placed in an equatorial orbit of 505 km of altitude by a Vega launcher.The telemetry down-link station will be Malindi. The pointing of POLARIX satellite will be gyroless and it will perform a double pointing during the earth occultation of one source, so maximizing the scientific return. POLARIX data are for 75 % open to the community while 25 % + SVP (Science Verification Phase, 1 month of operation) is dedicated to a core program activity open to the contribution of associated scientists. The planned duration of the mission is one year plus three months of commissioning and SVP, suitable to perform most of the basic science within the reach of this instrument.Comment: 42 pages, 28 figure

Correction to: Microplastics in seawater: sampling strategies, laboratory methodologies, and identification techniques applied to port environment

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Percepções de gestantes acerca do cuidado pré-natal na atenção primária à saúde

Objetivo: Compreender as percepções das gestantes acerca do cuidado recebido durante opré-natal, no âmbito da atenção primária à saúde.Método: Estudo qualitativo, baseado na Grounded Theory. A coleta de dados foi realizadade agosto a dezembro de 2016, através de entrevista semiestruturada com 12 gestantes querealizaram acompanhamento pré-natal na atenção primária do município deFlorianópolis/SC/Brasil. A coleta e análise dos dados foram realizadas concomitantemente.Na análise de dados utilizou-se a codificação aberta e axial.Resultados: Foram elaboradas três categorias, sendo elas: O cuidado antes e durante agestação. Participação em grupos de gestantes e, Cuidado de qualidade durante a gestação.Conclusão: As percepções das gestantes acerca do cuidado recebido durante o pré-natalestão relacionadas à atenção dispensada, ao acolhimento humanizado, consideração dasubjetividade da gestante e amparo nos momentos difíceis que tornam este períodosatisfatório.Palavras-chave: Atenção primária à saúde. Cuidado pré-natal. Enfermagem no consultório.Gestantes